5.) Kareems' Advice
by Kim Skiba
Here goes, this is perhaps one of the most important conversations I've ever had with one of my boys to date.
For the last 24 years I have had the unequivocable guidance and wisdom of my dear purebred Arabian gelding, Kareem. He is now 27 and has Cushings disease. Usually, he starts his downward spiral in late July, then by January he comes back around. Last year in September, it was different, he seemed to be giving up. One day last fall, I decided to massage him, with hopes that it might make him feel better. It was an emotional session, but frustrating also, because we kept being disturbed. Other boarders coming and going etc. It was tough. When the last boarder finally left, I started to cry, all I wanted to do was help my dear old friend. His massage continued, as my fingers went between his ribs and over his hips my tears increased, I thought to him, "Sweetie, I don't know what else to do," I kept sending him pictures of our youth together and pictures of his gallant majesty as a younger horse, by this time I was absolutely balling my eyes out, still massaging. Then I heard a sound that I had never heard before, I listened.......and well, all I can say is that it sounded like angels singing.
Then Kareem spoke, "I will always be with you I will never leave your side. Not on this plane or any other, I will always be with you I will never leave your side" I asked him, what more can I do for you? I know there is something I can do besides pergolide, and other Cushings drugs. He told me he was very tired and there is no finer care available for him than what I have provided, but now is the time for me to decide. Decide what? its up to you Kareem. When are you going to pass? Now the answer I got was Nov 13 or just before Christmas. And all though this conversation, I kept hearing the subtle singing and Kareem saying I will always be with you I will never leave your side, oh my heart....it was breaking, but a new part of me was emerging that I had never known.
November 11 was a Saturday. I sat on the fence of his paddock and he did not have much to say. I thought to myself, I am supposed to believe that in two days you will take your big gallop around your field then lay down and die? As you stand before me and happily eat your hay? By this time I was mad and in denial, little puffs of smoke were coming out of my ears. I thought, "yeah, right........." Well he did finally communicate back to me, he showed me a picture of himself, emaciated and wasting. He said he could never go on his own, I would have to make the decision to euthanize him when the time came. And he will always be with me and he will never leave my side, on this plane or any other.
We have to be very careful when we ask our questions, we have to be very sure of our intentions. We must say what we mean and mean what we say. I had asked Kareem one thing yet I was thinking of something else. He needed me to make a decision on or by Nov 13, the decision to euthanize him when necessary. Not on that day in particular, but to make up my mind to do it when it was time. He made me a promise and now it was my turn to make him a promise, and I did.
Unfortunately,........you can't see Kareem today as you all live in various parts of the world, but if you could. He has found his will again, I found that one "thing" that I knew was out there somewhere for my Cushings horse. I put him on Chasteberry almost three months ago, I basically tripped over it. He was off the pergolide within a week and hasn't looked back. Kareem is doing very well, gaining weight and just yesterday he bullied me at the fence to get out to his field quicker, I love it! And most of all, I am humbled yet again by my ignorance and his infinite patience. He is my dearest friend and greatest mentor of all time, I love you buddy. I feel very privileged to be able to share this story with all of you, by having this contest available. But, regardless of the contest or not. I'm so grateful for the experience that Kareem has provided in order for myself and others to learn from.
6.) Ziggy, Tractor & The Snake
By Gretchen Patterson
One afternoon, on a bright, hot summer day, I found myself at Karma Farms, preparing to ride my horse and get away from the office for a bit. Farm owner and best friend, Vickie Speir, asked me to check on the broodmares and colts since I was going out. So I saddled up Ziggy Stardust, and off we went, our first mission was to find the mare bands, then be sure that everyone was okay. The horses would be in the deep woods, under the shade of trees, swishing flies and waiting for the sun to go down. This was a very hot and dry summer for human and horse alike. We had 150 acres to search.
We long trotted down the front meadow and across the little creek to Rock Hill. No horses. We make a circle around that meadow, just to be sure but there are no horses here.
“Ok…….they are on the other side of the big creek,” I said to Ziggy. We turned and traced our steps back through the little creek to the much bigger Fox Creek, which has four different ways across. The neighbor's dog, Tractor, had joined us by this time for our little jaunt. Tractor loves the horses, and has adopted Vik and company as part of his duty. Whenever we go riding, Tractor comes along. He is part Chow and part German Shepherd, aptly named and one of the best horse dogs I've seen in some time. Tractor checks it out but there are no fresh horse tracks in the sand and no horses grazing in the back meadow, either.
“ Hmmm…..well, Ziggy, they must be up on Dairy Barn Hill.” Turning, we hit a slow lope and ride back up the creek to the second crossing that takes us up the front side of the big meadow. Tractor is just ahead, and I rein Ziggy to the left and down the sandy creek bank. Three steps forward and my horse stops dead his tracks. I bounced against the pommel with his sudden halt and said loudly, “Ziggy! What are you doing?….come on, let's go.” Ziggy shakes his head no and backs up. I cue him forward.
"No way…not going down there," says my horse. "Well, what is the deal here, Zig?," I said. "Not going down there," he says again. Then I look down at the dry creek bed, where Tractor is standing. All I see is a pile of horse manure…dark brown looking. I cue Ziggy again…..”Come on, dude…..you've been down this creek a hundred times.” He backs up more. Then Tractor, who rarely barks, barked just once. The manure pile moved, and this speckled brown and rather big water moccasin begins to uncoil, his triangular, snaky pointed head pointed right up the trail at Ziggy. Tractor ran up another path and out of the snake's way as we quickly turned and left the immediate vicinity, looking for a different crossing.
Later, when I get back to Vik's barn, I tell our story and she figured the snake was looking for water and decided to just nap right there in the middle of the dry creek bed. “Good thing you paid attention to your horse and the dog,” she said. “They were clearly telling you that crossing was not to be taken today.” I wholeheartedly agreed and told Ziggy what a good, good horse he was. And Tractor got an extra bone with supper when his owner heard the story.
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